Overview
- Alpine installed a fourth electronic control unit on Franco Colapinto’s A526 on Friday, a move that broke the three-unit seasonal limit and triggered a 10-place grid penalty that will make him start 21st.
- Colapinto posted the 14th-fastest time in Saturday qualifying but will still begin the U.S. Grand Prix from the penultimate slot because of the new penalty.
- The team spent practice time on long-run setup and fuel-loaded runs instead of low-fuel qualifying trim so Alpine can try to make up places in the race at the Circuit of the Americas.
- Audi also changed multiple power-unit components on Gabriel Bortoleto’s car, a decision that various reports say produced a very large grid penalty and leaves him starting behind Colapinto.
- Alpine says the shift reflects trade-offs tied to reliability, budget limits and its customer relationship with Mercedes, and the outcome on Sunday will influence the fight for fifth in the Constructors’ standings.